Small‐scale tree farmers are increasingly recognized as important producers of wood resources, yet their integration into wood markets remains limited in many developing countries. Integration is conceptualized as farmers’ ability to access target markets, participate in price‐setting, and compete favorably for fair prices. In sub‐Saharan Africa, tree growing has often been promoted for conservation or subsistence, with little emphasis on commercialization. This study was motivated by the underrepresentation of small‐scale farmers in wood markets despite their potential to supply significant wood resources and by the lack of empirical evidence on their degree of integration into markets. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how small‐scale tree farmers are integrated into wood markets by addressing two questions. (i) Which sociodemographic and tree farm attributes influence access to target and final selling points? (ii) What factors influence participation in price‐setting? The research was conducted in Mubende District, Central Uganda, using a mixed‐methods approach. Data were collected through participant and key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi‐square tests, and binary logistic regression, while qualitative data were processed using thematic content analysis. Findings showed that most farmers failed to sell from their target markets due to high transport costs, limited market information, and reliance on intermediaries. Participation in price‐setting was also limited, with many farmers accepting prices offered by buyers, especially in cases of distress sales linked to urgent household needs. The study recommends that governments and development partners strengthen business support services, including technical training, value addition, and improved market information systems, to enable small‐scales’ transition from subsistence‐oriented production to effective participation in wood markets.
Namaalwa et al. (Thu,) studied this question.